Garment for rehabilitation patients

ABSTRACT

A medical garment is provided that includes fabric fitted for an upper torso of a patient whereby a separable length is formed in the fabric with fastening strips fastened along the separable length, which may be used by the patient when dressing, undressing, bathing and during examinations by a healthcare professional.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to medical garments, and more particularly to a medical garment for rehabilitation patients specially designed to provide pain management and ease frustration with dressing, undressing, rehabilitation, and bathing.

Some medical wear does not accommodate patients with certain upper torso, shoulder, or cephalic injuries. Neither does some medical wear provide ease of use for both a patient and a caregiver. Current medical garments do not allow easy access to areas of a patient's torso and upper body by a caregiver.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved apparatus that accommodates a patient's and caregiver's use of a medical garment and provides easier access to a patient's upper body for a caregiver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a medical garment comprises a fabric, the fabric configured to fit an upper torso, the fabric having a collar, a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a bottom opening, a separable length, the separable length being formed in the fabric, a first strip of fastening tape, the first strip affixed to a first side of the separable length, and a second strip of fastening tape, the second strip of fastening tape being complementary to the first strip of fastening tape, and the second strip of fastening tape affixed to a second side of the separable length.

In another aspect of the present invention, a medical garment comprises a fabric, the fabric having a collar, a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a bottom opening, a first separable length of the fabric, the first separable length of the fabric running between one of the collar and the first sleeve, and the first sleeve and the bottom opening, a second separable length of the fabric, the second separable length of the fabric running between one of the collar and the second sleeve, and the second sleeve and the bottom opening, a first strip of fastening tape, the first strip affixed to a first side of the first separable length of the fabric, a second strip of fastening tape, the second strip affixed to a second side of the first separable length of the fabric, a third strip of fastening tape, the third strip affixed to a first side of the second separable length of the fabric, and a fourth strip of fastening tape, the fourth strip affixed to a second side of the second separable length of the fabric.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique perspective view of a medical garment according to an embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 2 is an oblique perspective view of the medical garment shown in FIG. 1 in use in a partially unsnapped configuration;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the medical garment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail side perspective view of a snap of the medical garment shown in FIG. 1 in an unsnapped configuration; and

FIG. 5 is a detail side perspective view of a snap of the medical garment shown in FIG. 1 in a snapped configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a medical garment including fabric fitted for an upper torso of a patient whereby a separable length is formed in the fabric with snap strips fastened along sides of the separable length, which may be used by the patient when dressing and undressing, and during examinations by healthcare professionals. Aspects of the present invention may be used by patients undergoing treatment or suffering from injuries including orthopedic injuries (e.g., broken limbs, rotator cuff tears, shoulder and elbow replacements), stroke, respiratory or cardiac conditions, neck and back injuries (e.g., chronic injuries, patients with a HALO device), mastectomy and other breast conditions, cancer, chemotherapy, dialysis, Alzheimer, spinal conditions, Parkinson's disease, paralysis, arthritic conditions, and nursing mothers. The patient may be first introduced to this medical garment after discarding the hospital gown.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an oblique perspective view of a medical garment 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in use in a snapped and a partially unsnapped configuration, respectively. Medical garment 10 may be suitable for wearing on an upper torso by a patient (e.g., as a shirt or a gown), and may have a fabric 12 configured to have a collar 20, a sleeve 21, and a bottom opening 26. Fabric 12 may be separable along a length 19 that may run between collar 20 and sleeve 21, which may form a split portion of sleeve 21. Length 19 may have a first strip 14 a and a second strip 14 b assembled to corresponding separated sides of the split portion of sleeve 21. First and second strips 14 a, 14 b, may include fastening tape or snap tape, for example, which may have two sides having elements that may be selectively fastened together. First strip 14 a may have a plurality of male snap elements 16 a along a length thereof, and second strip 14 b may have a plurality of female snap elements 16 b along a length thereof.

Fabric 12 may be separable along a second length 23 that may run between sleeve 21 and bottom opening 26 of fabric 12, which may form a split portion in fabric 12. Second length 23 may have a third strip 15 a and a fourth strip 15 b assembled to corresponding separated sides of the split portion of fabric 12. Third strip 15 a may have a plurality of male snap elements 18 a along a length thereof, and fourth strip 15 b may have a plurality of female snap elements 18 b along a length thereof. Third and fourth strips 15 a, 15 b may include fastening tape or snap tape.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a top plan view of medical garment 10 is shown. Fabric 12 may be configured to have a sleeve 22 opposite sleeve 21. First and second strips 14 a,b may be configured to be complementary, and may have roughly identical, lengths. Third and fourth strips 15 a,b may be configured to be complementary and may have roughly identical lengths. An entire side of medical garment 10 may be open or accessible when strips 14 a,b and 15 a,b are in an unsnapped configuration, which may aid in a dressing or undressing of a patient, or access to the patient by a healthcare professional.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a detailed side perspective view of snaps 16 a,b and 18 a,b of strips 14 a,b and 15 a,b are shown in an unsnapped and snapped configuration respectively. Strips 14 a, 15 a may have a plurality of male snap elements 16 a, 18 a respectively, and strips 14 b, 15 b may have a plurality of female snap elements 16 b, 18,b respectively. A dash-dot line illustrates, in FIG. 4, how male snap elements may mate with female snap elements 16 b, 18 b. Male snap elements may be secured to female snap elements, in FIG. 5, by an interference fit or a magnetic fit, for example.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, first, second, third and fourth strips 14 a,b and 15 a,b may be configured or affixed to fabric 12 such that strips 14 a,b and 15 a,b are roughly hidden from view when in a snapped configuration.

According to another exemplary embodiment, fabric 12 may be separable along a third length that may run between collar 20 and sleeve 22, which may form a split portion of sleeve 22. The third length may have a first and a second strip of fastening tape or snap tape assembled to corresponding separated sides of the split portion of sleeve 22. According to yet another embodiment, fabric 12 may be separable along a fourth length that may run between sleeve 22 and bottom opening 26 of fabric 12, which may form a split portion of fabric 12. The fourth length may have a first and a second strip of fastening tape or snap tape assembled to corresponding separated sides of the split portion of fabric 12. According to some embodiments, strips 14 a,b and 15 a,b may be fasteners configured to selectively join the corresponding se_(p)arable lengths, and may include, for example, a hook and loop fastener, a reclosable zipper (e.g., Ziploc®), a button, and a slidingly engaging fastener. According to some embodiments, fabric 12 may include, for example, a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, or a natural synthetic blend.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A medical garment, comprising: a fabric, the fabric configured to fit an upper torso, the fabric having a collar, a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a bottom opening; a separable length, the separable length being formed in the fabric; a first strip of fastening tape, the first strip affixed to a first side of the separable length; and a second strip of fastening tape, the second strip of fastening tape being complementary to the first strip of fastening tape, and the second strip of fastening tape affixed to a second side of the separable length.
 2. The medical garment of claim 1, further including: a second separable length, the second separable length being formed in the fabric; a third strip of fastening tape, the third strip affixed to a first side of the second separable length; and a fourth strip of fastening tape, the fourth strip of fastening tape being complementary to the third strip of fastening tape, and the fourth strip affixed to a second side of the second separable length.
 3. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein: the separable length runs between the collar and the first sleeve.
 4. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein: the separable length runs between the first sleeve and the bottom opening.
 5. The medical garment of claim 2, wherein: the separable length runs between the collar and the first sleeve, the second separable length runs between the first sleeve and the bottom opening, wherein the first strip of fastening tape and the second strip of fastening tape are chosen from a group consisting of a snap tape and an interference fit fastener.
 6. The medical garment of claim 5, wherein: the first strip of fastening tape is configured to form the first sleeve when fastened together.
 7. A medical garment, comprising: a fabric, the fabric having a collar, a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a bottom opening; a first separable length of the fabric, the first separable length of the fabric running between one of the collar and the first sleeve, and the first sleeve and the bottom opening; a second separable length of the fabric, the second separable length of the fabric running between one of the collar and the second sleeve, and the second sleeve and the bottom opening; a first strip of fastening tape, the first strip affixed to a first side of the first separable length of the fabric; a second strip of fastening tape, the second strip affixed to a second side of the first separable length of the fabric; a third strip of fastening tape, the third strip affixed to a first side of the second separable length of the fabric; and a fourth strip of fastening tape, the fourth strip affixed to a second side of the second separable length of the fabric.
 8. The medical garment of claim 7, wherein, the second separable length of the fabric runs between the collar and the second sleeve.
 9. The medical garment of claim 7, wherein, the second separable length of the fabric runs between the second sleeve and the bottom opening.
 10. The medical garment of claim 8, including, a third separable length of the fabric, the third separable length of the fabric runs between the second sleeve and the bottom opening. 